Farm Alert Marks 5th Anniversary, Calls for Technological Innovation in Livestock Sector

Professor Folorunsho Fasina, a renowned academic from the University of Pretoria and consultant with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has called on the Nigerian government to adopt technology and innovation to propel the development of the country’s livestock sector. Speaking at the 5th Anniversary Celebration of Farm Alert in Abuja, Fasina highlighted the lack of technological integration in the sector, despite Nigeria’s wealth in livestock resources.

He stressed the importance of better organization and *vertical integration* in the industry to optimize productivity and create job opportunities. “Nigeria is rich in resources, but we need better coordination and innovation. The livestock sector can be a major employer of labor if we adopt the right strategies,” Fasina said.

Fasina, who also serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board for Farm Alert, praised the organization for its transformative impact over the past five years. He noted that Farm Alert has expanded its reach to six Nigerian states and positively affected over 1,000 communities by improving access to essential animal health products.

In a interactive session with journalists, Dr. Femi Kayode, CEO of Farm Alert, shared plans to scale the company’s operations beyond Nigeria. “We aim to expand into West Africa by 2025-2026, and by 2030, we intend to be the largest distributor of animal feed across the continent,” Kayode said. The company also plans to extend its reach to East, South, and Central Africa over the next decade.

The event also spotlighted Farm Alert’s initiatives supporting young veterinarians, including a partnership with the Nigerian Medical Veterinary Association (NMVA) to provide grants.
Through this collaboration, 12 young veterinarians were awarded N12 million in start-up capital to grow their businesses.

Farm Alert’s efforts to make animal health products like vaccines, drugs, and feed more accessible and affordable to underserved communities is changing the landscape of Nigeria’s livestock sector.
The organization’s innovative approach continues to play a pivotal role in the sector’s growth and sustainability.